CVE-2025-37818

LoongArch: Return NULL from huge_pte_offset() for invalid PMD

Published May 8, 2025 CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

LoongArch: Return NULL from huge_pte_offset() for invalid PMD

LoongArch's huge_pte_offset() currently returns a pointer to a PMD slot
even if the underlying entry points to invalid_pte_table (indicating no
mapping). Callers like smaps_hugetlb_range() fetch this invalid entry
value (the address of invalid_pte_table) via this pointer.

The generic is_swap_pte() check then incorrectly identifies this address
as a swap entry on LoongArch, because it satisfies the "!pte_present()
&& !pte_none()" conditions. This misinterpretation, combined with a
coincidental match by is_migration_entry() on the address bits, leads to
kernel crashes in pfn_swap_entry_to_page().

Fix this at the architecture level by modifying huge_pte_offset() to
check the PMD entry's content using pmd_none() before returning. If the
entry is invalid (i.e., it points to invalid_pte_table), return NULL
instead of the pointer to the slot.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4193-1 linux-6.1 security update
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2025-13988 In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: LoongArch: Return NULL from huge_pte_offset() for invalid PMD LoongArch's huge_pte_offset() currently returns a pointer to a PMD slot even if the underlying entry points to invalid_pte_table (indicating no mapping). Callers like smaps_hugetlb_range() fetch this invalid entry value (the address of invalid_pte_table) via this pointer. The generic is_swap_pte() check then incorrectly identifies this address as a swap entry on LoongArch, because it satisfies the "!pte_present() && !pte_none()" conditions. This misinterpretation, combined with a coincidental match by is_migration_entry() on the address bits, leads to kernel crashes in pfn_swap_entry_to_page(). Fix this at the architecture level by modifying huge_pte_offset() to check the PMD entry's content using pmd_none() before returning. If the entry is invalid (i.e., it points to invalid_pte_table), return NULL instead of the pointer to the slot.
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Debian
Debian debian Linux
Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Weaknesses CWE-476
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Debian
Debian debian Linux
Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics epss

{'score': 0.00026}

epss

{'score': 0.00027}

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: LoongArch: Return NULL from huge_pte_offset() for invalid PMD LoongArch's huge_pte_offset() currently returns a pointer to a PMD slot even if the underlying entry points to invalid_pte_table (indicating no mapping). Callers like smaps_hugetlb_range() fetch this invalid entry value (the address of invalid_pte_table) via this pointer. The generic is_swap_pte() check then incorrectly identifies this address as a swap entry on LoongArch, because it satisfies the "!pte_present() && !pte_none()" conditions. This misinterpretation, combined with a coincidental match by is_migration_entry() on the address bits, leads to kernel crashes in pfn_swap_entry_to_page(). Fix this at the architecture level by modifying huge_pte_offset() to check the PMD entry's content using pmd_none() before returning. If the entry is invalid (i.e., it points to invalid_pte_table), return NULL instead of the pointer to the slot.
Title LoongArch: Return NULL from huge_pte_offset() for invalid PMD
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
May 11, 2026, 9:15 PM
Reserved
Apr 16, 2025, 4:51 AM
Status
Analyzed
Published
May 8, 2025, 7:15 AM
Modified
Jun 17, 2026, 9:15 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
May 8, 2025, 12:00 AM